Summary

– Preparing your vehicle for winter: tires, shoes for your car

– Seeing and being seen: safety in winter

– A cold snap on your vehicle: hot under the hood!

Winter is coming, and with it, snow and cold put your body to the test. Coat, scarf, boots, and vitamin C, you know these gestures by heart. But what about your car?

Here’s an overview of the three main points to check to prepare your car for winter.

Preparing your car for winter: socks and chains

Four sheets of paper are the equivalent of your tires’ surface area that keeps you hooked to the asphalt. When the road becomes slippery, it is essential to pay the utmost attention to it.

And winter means winter tires:

– If your purse allows you to buy four winter tires. But if you don’t live in the mountains, two winter tires mounted on the drive wheels (99% of the time the front wheels) are more than enough.

– Even if you have money, it’s better to buy two excellent brand name tires rather than four medium quality tires. The difference between the two brands of tires can sometimes be enormous.

Beware, however, in case of heavy snowfalls; braking can quickly lead to a spin on a mountain road! In this case, make sure you have 4 snow tires.

– Finally, remember to check your tire pressure several times during the winter. A poorly inflated tire increases the risk of having an accident, especially in winter.

Good to know: chains or snow socks are essential to get onto the road. The police may prohibit you from using your car if you are not equipped. Socks are easier to put on, but they wear out very quickly. For the long term, opt for chains.

Please note: In some states, it is mandatory to equip vehicles with snow/winter tires or chains during the winter period, excluding vehicles equipped with studded tires, in mountainous regions.

Seeing and being seen: safety in winter

This is the watchword in winter in wet conditions (snow, rain, fog) that will not make your trip easier.

See

For a good look :

– get the essential squeegee to defrost your windshield;

– check your wiper blades and do not use them on a frosted or snowy windshield because this will cause them to tear;

– Check your light bulbs.

Tip: not very aesthetic, but a radical effect, place a cardboard box on your windshield at night before going home to prevent frost from settling on it. Also, consider getting a small de-icing spray in case your lock freezes overnight.

Be seen

To be seen well, remember to check that your headlight and taillight lenses are clear and that nothing obstructs the passage of light.

Good to know: always have a box of new bulbs in your glove compartment. Beware, recent car models are built in a way that makes it difficult to change bulbs and sometimes requires you to make a detour to a garage.

A cold snap on your car: hot under the hood!

Low temperatures are no better for your car than hot weather.

Lift the hood

Open the cover from time to time to check :

The battery cannot withstand the extreme cold and the intensive use of heating, defrosting, and fires. Relatively resistant, if you haven’t changed it for a long time, don’t forget to have it checked.

– The spark plugs, those of a petrol model are to be changed every 60 000 km. No recommendation for diesel models. Remember to have them checked from time to time.

– The coolant must withstand low temperatures to keep your engine from freezing. Freezing temperatures are often written roughly on the coolant canisters.

Run the engine

Finally, if you only need to remember one tip to help your car get through the winter, remember this one: before you leave, allow your car engine to run for 5-10 minutes. This little gesture is simply THE most important thing you can do in winter. It will enable the engine to reach its ideal operating temperature and prevents it from wearing out too quickly. It’s a bit like warming up a sportsperson before a competition.

This recommendation is equally valid for those who decide to leave the car in the garage during the cold season. Because if you don’t want to have any unpleasant surprises in the spring, remember to run your vehicle for at least 15 minutes once a month.

Hope the above helps you prepare for winter. Remember to share this post and leave your comment below.

3 Points to Check on Your Car to Prepare for Winter